12/07/2012

Italy: Green Energy Tied To Sicilian Superboss

Italian authorities have arrested six individuals and seized assets worth 10 million euros or $13 million in connection with "a
probe into suspected Mafia infiltration of renewable-energy
facilities in western Sicily whose proceeds are believed to have
gone to fugitive Cosa Nostra head Matteo Messina Denaro" as reported by ANSA.

The solar plants and
wind farms are ubiquitous throughout southern
Italy, and the Sicilian Mafia has exploited many of these green companies both to siphon government subsidies
and launder dirty money as reported by Stephan Faris for Time.

Sicilian-mobster-turned-supergrass Antonio Birrittella claims "the modern Mafia has reinvented itself
as a 'white collar' organization," and become involved with "the development of wind farms and renewable
energy . . . through a combination of shell companies and the infiltration of
regional bodies which distribute the subsidies"as reported by Gail Champion for BBC News.